Beginning June 26, 2017, the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners (PT Board) will be piloting an Alternate Approval Pathway (AAP) for applicants from accredited programs for licensure by examination. The AAP will separate the functions of exam registration/approval from licensure application/issuance. The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) will have the final authority to determine who is eligible to sit for the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) with input from the schools, and the PT Board will concentrate on the requirements for issuing a license once the NPTE is passed by an applicant. The processing step of the PT Board verifying eligibility to FSBPT once all of the required licensure documentation has been received will be eliminated.

The AAP will not affect the current procedure for processing foreign-educated applicants.

Steps for Applying for a License

Temporary License: You may pay for the optional temporary license online when you apply. If you don't pay for a temporary license when you submit your online application, you need to mail a check or money order payble to ECPTOTE to the address at the bottom of the page. Click the following link for more information about PT Temporary Licenses.

You must provide your social security number (SSN) to obtain a license. If you do not have an SSN, you must submit an SSN Affidavit (pdf) stating that you do not have one.

Step 2. Complete items A-D below in ANY order.

Contact the registrar at your school and have them send an official transcriptdirectly to the Board. The transcript must show at least active enrollment in the final semester of the PT or PTA program and must be sent directly to the Board by the registrar. Transcripts issued to and mailed by the student will not be accepted. (This applies only to graduates of CAPTE-accredited programs. All others must submit an educational evaluation.)

Mail a recent, 2 in. x 2 in. passport-type photo to the Board. Computer-printed photos are not acceptable and will delay the processing of your application. Photos must be on standard photographic paper, with the printed name, SSN and signature of the applicant on the reverse in dark ink. For information regarding passport-type photo requirements, click here.

Request that your Program Director mail a Letter of Completion to the Board. For graduates of CAPTE-accredited programsOUTSIDE ofTEXAS: Print out the Letter of Completion form and give it to your program director or school registrar to complete. The form must include the school seal or be notarized, must be dated on or after the actual completion date of the PT or PTA program, and must be mailed directly to the Board from the school . Documents received from the applicant will not be accepted. For graduates of TEXAS CAPTE-accredited programs: Your program director will send a Letter of Completion with a list of graduating students directly to the Board. You do not need to send a separate completion letter. Pre-Completion Letters are no longer required as your program director will report that you are on track to complete the PT or PTA program directly to FSBPT.

Step 2. Schedule your exam.

After the FSBPT has verified your eligibility, you will receive an Authorization to Test (ATT) email with instructions on reserving your seat with a Prometric Testing Center.

Step 3. Take the exam.

Once you take the exam, the FSBPT will report your score to the PT Board one week after the test date. Find out whether you passed or failed at that time by logging into your FSBPT candidate account.

Test Accommodations:

For CAPTE-Accredited Applicants: If you require accommodations on the national exam, you need to request accommodations at the time that you register to take the NPTE. To request accommodations, email examregistration@fsbpt.org to receive forms and instructions. More information on testing accommodations is available through the FSBPT's website.